Means for securing holdback-straps to thills.



No. 798,308. PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

W. J. THOMAS.

MEANS FOR SECURING HOLDBAGK STRAPS T0 THILLS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19,1904.

/ I I E M.NE :12 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MEANS FOR SECURING HOLDBACK-STRAPS To THILLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

Application filed October 19, 1904. Serial No. 229,196

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Inglewood, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means to SecureHoldback- Straps to Thills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adjustable fasteners for securingholdback-straps upon the thills; and the object is to facilitate therapid and accurate adjustment of the holdbackstraps to the thills of avehicle. v

Another object is to provide for an instantaneous adjustment of thestraps to fit the various sizes of animals hitched to the vehicle.

I accomplish these objects by the device described herein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aview ofa thill with my fastener attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of Fig. 1 with the straps omitted. Fig. 3 is a perspective Viewof the combined strap, holding-ring, and engaging dog. Fig. 4 is a viewof a thill with my modified form of fastener applied thereto. Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section of the modified form shown in Fig. 4.

In the preferred construction, (shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings,)6 is an ordinary vehicle-thill, and preferably secured upon the innersides thereof and at suitable distance from the end is a plate 7 ofsuitable material, having turned-over edges 7 forming a guideway 8 andhaving openings 9, which coincide with ratchet-teeth 10, cut in theinner side of the thill. Mounted on this plate and sliding freely in theguideway is a slotted plate 11, carrying aspring-pressed dog 12, whichpasses therethrough and engages the teeth formed in the inner side ofthe thill. At one end of this plate and projecting outwardly therefromis a tubular bearing 13, in which is mounted a ring 14, which surroundsthe thill and is provided with loops 15 for the reception of theholdback-straps 16, on whose ends are secured spring-snaps 17, whichengage rings 25 on the breeching. The dog 12 is of such constructionthat when the pull on the holdback-strap is toward the body of thevehicle the dog catches in the teeth in the thill and holds the ringfrom sliding backward toward the body of the vehicle; but when the pullis toward the end of the thill the dog will freely slide over the teethand permit the ring to slide on the thill until it slides off the endthereof, thereby permitting the horse to disengage himself from thevehicle in case the swingletree should happen to break.

In my modified form of construction, (shown in Figs. 4 and 5,)theguide-plate 18 is I-shaped in cross-section and is firmly secured to theinner side of the thill. Upon the outer and inner edges 19 of theguide-plate is slidably mounted a slotted plate 20, carrying aspringpressed pin 21, which is adapted to pass into holes 22, placed atintervals in the outer face of the I-shaped guide-plate. At one end ofthe plate is a tubular bearing 23, to which is secured a ring 24,similar to'ring 14, and which has the same functions as herein beforementioned and illustrated in my preferred construction.

It will be seen from the preceding description that I have produced anovel and inexpensive device which can be readily and permanentlysecured to the thills of a vehicle, rendering the holdback-straps easyof adjustment.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A holdback-strap fastener, in combination a thill having teeth; aslidably-mounted securing-ring having adog, on said thill, said ringencircling said thill, said dog being adapted to engage said teeth, andhold the securingring against movement backwardly on the thill and toslide over said teeth when the pull on said securing-ring is toward thefront end of the thill and to permit said ring to slide off the forwardend of said thill; and means to secure holdback-straps to said ring.

2. In combination a thill having teeth; a plate having a guidewaysecured to said thill and having apertures therein in register with theteeth in the thill; a slidably-slotted plate in said guideway;asecuring-ring encircling said thill and having means whereby aholdback-strap may be secured thereto pivotally secured to said plate,the diameter of said ring being a little larger than the diameter of thethill; and a spring-pressed dog secured to hereunto subscribed my namethis 11th day of said sliding plate, said dog being adapted to October,1904:. engage the teeth on said thill and hold the plate againstbackward movement and tdslide 5 over said teeth on a forward movementtoward Witnesses:

the outer end of the thill, and off the thill. G. E. HARPHAM,

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have EDMUND A. STRAUsE.

WILLIAM J. THOMAS.

